A large single 8-pointed star in the center of a
quilt top is sometimes called a "lone star quilt", but many Native Americans refer to them
simply as "star quilts". Some history of the
Lakota
Star Quilts are explained on the Akta Lakota Museum Gift Shop web page. The
Carnegie Museum
has more here. The Star Quilt took on the role of replacing the
buffalo robe in ceremonial and religious life. Death, birth and other important events are
a time for giving and sharing of these Star Quilts at ceremonies. As explained
"The most important use of star quilts in contemporary Lakota society is as gifts at
a memorial for the dead called a "Giveaway". The Giveaway is a time to share
food, quilts and goods at a memorial for the dead. Wambdi Wicasa explains more Star Quilt Tradition here. Also see
Native American Quilts and be sure
to explore the image collection at To Honor and Comfort:
Native Quilting Traditions. "To Honor and Comfort" was a collaboration
between the National Museum of the American Indian and Michigan State University Museum,
the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES), and Atlatl, a nonprofit
organization that promotes the arts in Native communities. More
about the exhibit can be seen here.

This classic Lone
Star quilt is featured in an article about Southern Arizona Folkart in the
African-American community of St. David, Arizona.

Don't miss visiting Polly's Quilts Web page. Polly's Quilts is located in New Town, North
Dakota - a small town located on the shores of Lake Sakakawea on the Ft. Berthold Indian
Reservation. She shares an excellent series
of photos of how she sews her star quilts.

Patterns?

Want to make a Lone Star quilt of your own? You can
use a classic approach with cutting and sewing 45 degree diamonds. Or you can use a paper
piecing pattern such as this beauty
by Karen Stone.